Jeff Mitchell / The Salinas Californian

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I want to talk about the city’s Code Enforcement program – or lack thereof.

(And if you’re reading this, by the way, you’re likely not the problem.)

So what is code enforcement?

It’s the process the city has of making you and me follow all the rules that allow us to live a high quality of life and not kill one another (metaphorically speaking, of course).

You could say that it’s the little stuff in life that eventually becomes the big stuff that becomes the very plague of your existence.

What am I talking about?

Stuff like letting your house fall apart and not doing anything about it. Leaving your trash cans out on the street – permanently. Or maybe, letting that once nice lawn turn into something out of the African savannah.

My personal faves include the hillbilly hipsters who like to wear their Marlboro trucker hats and dirty tank top muscle shirts as they park their jacked-up pickup trucks or cavernous SUVs across their dead lawns. Real classy folks.

But city codes also cover other important things, too.

For instance the city’s zoning code controls the location, size and height of such things as buildings, garages and fences. Don’t think that is such a big deal?

Just wait until some moron applies to build a three-story McMansion next door to your one-story ranch house.

The codes are there to protect everyone from having to suffer nearby conflicting activities such as when a neighbor suddenly decides to run a business inside a residential section.

What’s the point of all this?

It seems that the city has allowed its code enforcement staff to suffer the same fate as its police and fire departments – that is they have become emaciated and are barely capable of getting the job done.

Some would say that, in fact, code enforcement is underwater. The department has like 2½ code enforcement officers. Watsonville, by comparison has about 10. You do the math. Oh, and by the way, Watsonville has just about one-third of Salinas’ 150,000 population.

So when we talk about increasing our sales tax at the ballot box to help these departments, it’s critical that we include this little known department.

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And, yes, that’s why I am supportive of putting a generalized tax measure on the November ballot so that we have the flexibility to support all departments like this one.

Code enforcement could possibly even be financially self-sustaining or better given the basic resources its needs.

That said, a wise friend pointed out – and I agree with him – that you never want any kind of law enforcement agency to run around with even the slightest whiff that their actions are being motivated by the promise of revenues to come.

This same friend also pointed out that it’s compliance with the law that code enforcement seeks out first – then come the fines.

And, even then, fine revenues in a town like Salinas – where so many folks are just barely holding on economically – really isn’t anything to count on.

In structure, code enforcement is one of the units of city government that operates just below the emergent world of the police and fire departments. It’s one of the key departments that helps manage behavior and allows us all to play well together in the sandbox.

I’d love to say that Salinas just doesn’t need these officers. But I know better and so do you. Almost every week one of you sends me an email or a letter telling me about the latest illegal, stupid or careless antics of your neighbors.

I feel for you – I truly do.

Of course, the long-term fix to so much of this stuff is beyond law enforcement – as it should be.

We all should strive to be kind and considerate to our neighbors and fellow residents and to think about how our actions could impact others before carrying them out

Until that amazing day arrives, however, we need to figure out how to save our city’s code enforcement department.

Under the Dome (is) Live! (sort of)

We have begun doing a webcast video version of Under the Dome. We’re calling it Under the Dome Live! Please check out our third episode which features 5th District City Councilwoman Kimbley Craig at http://bit.ly/12FdROD

Also, please be sure to let us know what you think. Your kind feedback is always welcomed.

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Monday marked the 258th day that Jose Castañeda has continued to cling to both his council seat and his seat on the Alisal Union school board in apparent violation of state law.

Jeff Mitchell covers Salinas Valley politics and government. Under the Dome, an opinion column, appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in both print and online. For quick political hits, check out Under the Dome - The Blog which is available at: www.theCalifornian.com most every day. Readers are invited to send news tips or story ideas by email to: jemitchell@TheCalifornian.com